Castlegar RCMP have made several arrests after a traffic stop resulted in the discovery of drugs and firearms.
Just after midnight on Sept. 3, police conducted a traffic stop after a vehicle was spotted on Columbia Avenue contravening the Motor Vehicle Act, according to an RCMP news release.
Upon approaching the vehicle, police say they saw what appeared to be a firearm.
Four occupants of the vehicle were taken into police custody without incident, and a search of the vehicle found a loaded rifle, an air soft handgun, and a large quantity of controlled substances believed to be fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Three people were taken to the Castlegar jail, but the fourth person, a 45 year-old Castlegar man, was released at the scene.
The female driver, a 41 year-old Winlaw resident, was released from custody on bail conditions to appear in Castlegar Court Dec. 13, 2023.
The third passenger of the vehicle was 30-year-old Castlegar resident Jesse Farmery. At the time of this arrest, he was out on bail after being charged in relation to a Feb. 15 traffic stop where police located large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and currency.
Farmery was brought before the Provincial Court, where five additional charges were laid in relation to the Sept. 3 incident: possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; possession of a firearm without licence; commit an offence with loaded firearm; careless use, carrying, handling, shipping, transport or storage of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance for trafficking.
Farmery was held in custody and will next appear at the Kelowna Law Courts on Sept. 14.
The fourth passenger, 41 year-old Brian Mackay of Montrose, was also out on bail at the time of his arrest after being charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking after a traffic stop in Trail on May 25 discovered methamphetamine and fentanyl.
For the Sept. 3, allegation, Mackay was brought before the Provincial Court, and five additional charges were laid: possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; possession of a firearm without licence; commit an offence with loaded firearm; careless use, carrying, handling, shipping, transport or storage of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance for trafficking.
Mackay was held in custody and is scheduled to appear in Castlegar Court on Sept. 20.
Castlegar RCMP are continuing to investigate, and the matter has been referred to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for full charge assessment.
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betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
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